Catamenial garment



Nov. 8, 1932. A. E. cAsTLE 1,886,642

CATAMENIAL GARMENT Filed April 9, 1950 INVENTOR. 69's TL E,

Patented Nov. 8, 1932 UNITED STATES ANNA E. CASTLE, F BEVERLY, NEWJERSEY CATAMENIAL GARMENT Application 111m April 9, 1930. Serial in;442,736.

This invention relates to catamenial garments having for its generalobject the provision of an improved sanitary or catamenial garmentaffording the utmost in the way of a comfortable dress protecting,durable catamenial garment, especially designed and adopted for thepersonal convenience of the wearer.

Another object is the provision of an adjustable, light-weight,non-binding sanitary garment adapted to be worn next to the napkin andwhich can be conveniently opened for the removal or adjustment of thenapkin.

A further object is to provide asnug fitting catamenial garmentconforming to the modern style of dress, adding no material over thehips and with adjustable features assuringagainst the soiling of onesclothes at all times.

Additional objects and advantages of the construction employed willappear hereinafter and will be best understood when taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a elevational view ofthe inside of my catamenial garment in flat open posi tion.

. Figure 2-is a front perspective view of the device showing the crotchflap droppedfor adjustment of the napkin, calls of nature,

etc. 7

Figure 3 is a front perspective view of the device as it appears inclosed or normal position on the wearer, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary transverse section taken on the line 4-4 ofFigure 2.

For the purpose of illustrating my inven tion, I have shown in theaccompanying drawing one form thereof which is at present preferred byme, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory andreliable results, although it is to be understood that the variousinstrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variouslyarranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to theprecise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities asherein.'shown and described. 5 Referring more particularly to thedrawing wherein similar characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in the several figures of the preferred form of the invention Adesignates my sanitary garment which is mainly composed of any suitablematerial preferably lined with rubberized silk or other water-proofmaterial, and which comprises a front or body portion 11 of a somewhatpolygonal shape having an integrally formed depending crotch flap 12 theinner side of which latteris lined with a sheet of impermeable material13, or rubberized silk. The body portion 11 at the border is providedwith a hem or selvage 14 which. is prolonged about the border of theflap 12 while the sheet of impermeable-material 13 is secured by aborder strip 15 which, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 underlies and iscoincident with the hem 14 on the flap 12. Secured to the upper part ofthe body portion 11 is a waist band or belt 16 to which is attached a.depending flap 17 provided with a hem or selvage 18 whereon is stitchedor otherwise secured snap fasteners including a plurality of socketclasps 19, which are adapted when the flap 17 is brought into positionshown in Figure 2 to receive the coacting ball joints 20 of the flap 12.At the outer edges of the flap 17 I provide a pair of closed loops 21which may be of tape etc., for the reception of a pair of adjustabletapes or straps 22-23 fastened to apices 2{125 of the polygonal shapedbody portion 11. The straps 22-23 are likewise provided with coactingsnap fasteners 2627. The band or belt '16, as best shown in Figure 1 isprovided-with hook and eye fastening elements 28-29 by means of whichthe band and consequently the flap 17 may be connected into theoperative position shown in Figures 2 and 3.

In Figure 1 the device is shown in a spread 90 out or flat position witha view to a better coactin fastening elements 26 and 27 serving to astenthe straps 22--23 snugly on the limbs at the desired degree of tension.It will be particularly observed that no mate rial is added over the hipline which as is well known causes a very undesirable bulkiness. Ifdesired the addition of any trimmings such as lace, etc. to the garmentwill give the device the modish efiect of a step-in requiring then onlya silk slip under the dress.

In the present illustration I have not added tabs to the front and backof the garment. for fastening the napkin, as I have found they have atendency to pull down the garment which is undesirable. If desiredhowever, a separate conventional band may be employed for pinning thenapkin.

It is an important feature of the present invention to provide agarment, providing a maximum of comfort for the wearer with apositiveassurance against the soiling of the clothes. The presentgarment illustrated is of a very durable type in that it will stand thewear and tear of laundering.

I am aware of kindred devices for the purpose of providing a sanitary orcatamenial garment but I have found that all these entail a considerabledegree of personal discomfort and actual pain in-binding the limbs orwaist, stopping the circulation and in general proving an exceedinglyuncomfortable garment to wear. The present device on the con,-

relatively narrow and substantially rectangular lower body portion, awaist band at the upper narrow end of said upper body portion, a flapcarried by the front portion of said waist band, detachable fasteningdevices on the bottom edges of said flap and said lower body portion, awater-proof sheet covering er when the bottom edge of said lower portionis fastened to the bottom edge of said flap.

\ ANNA E. CASTLE.

trary not only fits snugly under the usual street costume without addingin the slightest degree to the bulkiness of the hip line, but by reasonof its comfort may be worn as long as desired or necessary, without thewearer being made cognizant ofits presence by any discomfort. The straps22-23 which are adjusted according to thigh measurement assist inholding the body portion and back of my garment firm, a desirablefeature sinccit assures the covering of the napkin thus making soilingof the clothes impossible.

The crotch flap 12 not only prevents soiling of the other garments wornover my device but permits the removal or adjustment of the napkin andanswering calls of nature 7 bydropping the crotch flap 12.

I I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific formswithout departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and Itherefore desire the present embodiment to be .considered in allrespects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to theappended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate thescope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new and desire tosect-ire by Letters Patent, is

A garment of the character stated, comprising a relatively wide andsubstantially trapezoidal upper body portion merging into a

